Factors Influencing Acceptance Of Routine Hiv Testing And Counseling Among Pregnant Women In Kibera Informal Settlement, Nairobi, Kenya

ABSTRACT Acceptance of routine HIV councelling and testing (HCT) can go along way in providing the much needed support including treatment to alleviate suffering from HIV/AIDS. However, there is low uptake of routine HCT. The purpose of this study was to determine factors influencing acceptance of routine HCT. Specific objectives included to: determining the level of acceptance of routine HTC among pregnant women in Kibera informal settlement; determine socio-demographic characteristics influencing acceptance of routine HTC among pregnant women in Kibera informal settlement; determine institutional characteristics influencing acceptance of routine HTC among pregnant women in Kibera informal settlement; and, assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices influencing acceptance of routine HTC among pregnant women in Kibera informal settlement. The study was across-sectional descriptive in nature employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data was collected using structured interview schedules with open and closed type questions where a total of 400 respondents were interviewed. Three key informants from NASCOP, NACC, and the DASCO in Langata District were interviewed. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 17. Data was presented using charts, graphs and frequency tables. Factors that were significantly associated with acceptance of routine HIV testing and counseling were being married (χ 2 = 5.6, df = 1, P =0.018), attending ANC at least once (χ 2 = 5.06, df = 1, P =0.024), being in second or third trimester of pregnancy (χ 2 = 7.26, df = 1, P =0.007),satisfaction with pretest counseling (χ 2 = 33.417 df = 1, P =0.000), Defaut from ANC (χ 2 = 5.081, df = 1, P =0.024), knowledge whether HIV is curable (χ 2 = 5.312, df = 1 P =0.021), knowledge on availability of routine HIV counseling and testing (χ 2 = 17.848, df = 1, P =0.000), pretest counseling (χ 2 = 12.661, df = 1, P =0.000. Key informant interviews showed that low education level, ignorance and poverty contributed to low acceptance of routine HTC. It was concluded that marital status, low education level, lack of knowledge of risk factors for HIV infection and not attending ANC contribute to low acceptance of routine HTC. In addition, lack of access to government hospitals and awareness of routine HTC are major impediments of acceptance of routine HTC. Based on these findings to improve the acceptance of routine HTC the study recommends to Government of Kenya and other stake holders to design integrated HIV and reproductive health programmes targeting the youth and establish more public health facilities to increase accessibility.